Pilates is a method of controlled exercises focused on the deep abdominal and back muscles, posture, breathing and alignment. Mat classes use body weight and small equipment such as rings and bands; reformer classes use a sliding carriage with springs that adds resistance or assistance, and are smaller and more expensive. Clinical Pilates, taught by physiotherapists, is used in rehabilitation, particularly for back pain.
It suits a wide range of people: those coming back from injury, desk workers with stiff backs, runners and dancers wanting better control, and pregnant and postnatal women in specialist classes. Classes are calmer than a gym workout but demanding, and teachers in the UK usually hold a Level 3 mat Pilates qualification or a comprehensive certification for equipment.
Mat classes typically cost £10 to £18 and reformer classes £20 to £35, with introductory packs for new clients. Private sessions with an instructor run from £50 to £90 an hour. If you have a back problem, osteoporosis or are pregnant, tell the instructor beforehand so exercises can be adjusted.
Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Chelsea are home to the five-star hotel spas, where a spa day with lunch is priced as a special occasion and weekend slots go weeks ahead. Shoreditch has led the city's bathhouse and social sauna boom, with hot–cold circuits in railway arches and on rooftops that open late and book by the ninety-minute session. Kensington and Paddington hold the established holistic clinics, combining acupuncture, osteopathy and reflexology under one roof, while Soho's studios run yoga, breathwork and sound baths from early morning to late evening.
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